2009 is the year of the Moto for Verizon; more upcoming handsets revealed
When our ninjas get going they don’t stop until the job is done. Yesterday your pals here at BGR gave you an exclusive preview of four tasty upcoming Motorola handsets – codenamed FLASH, RUSH 2, CALGARY and INFERNO. As sexy as they are, you didn’t think we’d stop there did you? Today we have three more exclusive looks for you and just like yesterday, each of these handsets comes bearing a codename and a date with Verizon Wireless sometime next year. First and foremost is the NIAGRA seen above. It looks almost like an updated RIZR and shows off the same sharp angles seen yesterday on the FLASH. The slider opens to reveal a RAZR-like keypad and speaking of the RAZR, we wouldn’t be surprised if we finally see the RAZR line get a more substantial refresh that echos the shapes and lines seen here on the NIAGRA. Hit the jump for a look at the next two handsets.
Above to the left you’ll find the FAIRBANKS, a rugged clam shell sporting Push to Talk (PTT) and dedicated music controls beneath the outer LCD. To the right is the HARMONY, another clam shell that we wouldn’t recommend beating on quite as hard as the FAIRBANKS. It’s sleek, sexy and also has music buttons beneath the outer LCD – but this time they’re touch sensitive. It looks like the HARMONY also has a touch sensitive mute key below the standard back, play/pause and forward buttons, along with another touch key with an unknown function [UPDATE: the fifth button is most likely an enable/disable bluetooth button as is the case on the W755 - thanks pwmccarthy]. There you have it folks. 2009 has to be a pivotal year for Motorola in every sense of the word – a few more missteps and there might not be any coming back. Out of the seven upcoming phones we’ve shown you over the past few days, there are definitely a few gems that will likely be well received. At the same time however, we’re not seeing anything killer that will lead the charge for Moto as it fights gale force winds in an effort to stay afloat. What do you guys think; has anything you’ve seen so far knocked your socks off?
these look like cheap shiny Chinese toys, thanks I will pass.
Moto was probably typing on an iphone when they misspelled NiagAra.
anyone noticed the CLR button, i haven’t seen em in any of the other moto phones.
The unknown touch key on the Harmony is most likely for enabling/disabling bluetooth. Looks to be the exact same layout as the W755.
Lol @ Joe the Plumber and Ari
I think people on this blog always forget that not everyone wants and/or uses a smartphone. Yes that market is growing sharply but dumphones (I hate that stupid word btw) are still the biggest seller, which is evidenced by the Razr being the best seller all this time until the iPhone recently took it’s spot. Not everyone is as tech savvy as those who visit BGR and those that are not do not always want smartphones, especially now that all these phones require a data plan. I have a Storm but honestly how many people do you know actually need internet on their phone, as opposed to those you know that don’t?
The majority of people are satisfied with cool looking phones like the dare/instinct/sidekick/decoy and whatever else you want to throw into that mix. I think Motorola realizes that there is a niche for everything, which is why they have something for the smartphone crowd, the Flash, the Calgary for the dare/instinct/sidekick crowd and then there are these phones that are shown here. There are more elderly and younger kids in America than there are any others so these phones should do just fine. It’s a start so I hope they keep trying to innovate and not rely on old successes to keep them in the game.
Well put Likeabite. Plus will all the slamming of Moto stuff by the GSM whiners copmaring everything to the iPhone the talk IMO is garbage. With Apples design what will they be able to come up with down the road, my guess nothing worth while. However does this mean that all us iPhone haters can knock Apple for not having and ideas down the road.
Anywhoo I think Moto is doing the right thing myself so bring them on.
Oh and to the folks that say VZW will not have/use Android, WRONG it has already been stated they will. First phone with it at this point is out just over a year from now tho. So before you make a statement know what you are talking about.
Obviously they aren’t due until 2012 since the displays show Feb 29th
that is nice phon
Bring on a new line of Q’s Motorola! Make the camera better in quality and you’ll make me a happy camper!
Motorola needs to get out of the stone age and create something we havent already seen before. Just have to wait to see what LG is going to bring to the table this year.
WHEN DOES THE FAIRBANKS COME OUT???